About

INSERM is a public scientific and technological institute under the joint authority of the French Ministries of Health and Research. Dedicated to biomedical research and human health, it spans the entire pathway from laboratory discoveries to patient care. Internationally, INSERM collaborates with leading institutions worldwide to address scientific challenges and drive major advances in these fields.

Our team, part of the INCIT research unit based in Nantes, France, addresses key challenges in melanoma, immunotherapy, and inflammatory skin diseases. We focus on identifying molecular and immunological signatures associated with clinical responses in advanced skin cancer patients.

As part of our research projects, we lead the Heliopredict clinical trial (RC22_0309) in collaboration with Nantes University Hospital. Coordinated by Professor Lise Boussemart, this clinical trial aims to develop an AI-based algorithm to predict advanced skin cancer response to immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Using convolutional neural network analysis of the sun damage surrounding the primary tumor scar picture, we identify unique clinical features that serve as surrogate markers for tumor mutational burden. Our predictive tool will assist clinicians in choosing the most appropriate treatment based on patient-specific clinical and molecular data. Additionally, our trial seeks to validate the molecular and immunological links between peri-scar sun-damage and treatment responses through genetic, proteomic, and immunological analyses. By combining advanced AI methods with detailed biological insights, our innovative approach aims to improve patient outcomes while deepening our understanding of the mechanisms driving treatment responses.

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Role in the Project

As the coordinator of the MULTIR project, our role is to ensure the proper implementation of the action in accordance with the grant agreement by supervising the consortium's activities and ensuring the quality of deliverables and reports submitted to the granting authority. We also act as the main intermediary between the consortium and the granting authority, which includes submitting prefinancing guarantees (if applicable), collecting and verifying the necessary documents, and transmitting the deliverables. We are responsible for informing the authority about the distribution of payments to other beneficiaries and ensuring that these payments are made without undue delay. We fully assume these tasks to ensure the project's success and compliance with contractual obligations. We are also actively involved in WP5 - "Validation of the computational models and testing of optimized treatments," and WP7 - "Dissemination, outreach, and exploitation.".

 

Prof. Lise Boussemart: MULTIR project coordinator and French Society of Dermatology scientific board member, oncodermatologist in the Department of Deramtology/Oncology at Nantes University Hospital.

Dr. Javier Saenz: MULTIR project co-coordinator, specialized in biomedicine.

Dr. Thomas Roret: European project manager of MULTIR, specialized in structural biology.